Metal post



(No Model.)

T. J. THORP. METAL POST.

Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

witnesses MQUAMM ,Q M

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

THOMAS J. THORP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE P.GOODALE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

M ETAL POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,121, dated October7, 1890.

Application filed May '7, 1890. Serial No. 350,887. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. THORP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Posts; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a metallic post suitable foruse as telegraphpoles and other purposes; and itconsists in theconstructions hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the post,the ends being represented as broken away. Fig. 2 isarear elevation ofthe upper part of the post. Fig. 3 is a plan of a wire-attaching plug orcore and hook. Fig. 4 is a like view ofa modified form. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section of a coupling-ring. Fig. 6 is a similar view of aremovable cap. Fig. 7 is an end view of a tube-section. Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of a section of a modified means of supporting a post. Fig. 9is a longitudinal section of the upper half of a cap-shaped plug,indicated near the top of Fig. 1, on a reduced scale; and Fig. 10 is asimilar view of the lowerhalf of a wire-securing plug, the wire-securinghooks being cut away.

The bottom section of the post herein shown and described, consisting ofthe tube with longitudinal opening and provided with rings having each are-ent-rant angle fitting the opening and the hooks to receive and holdthe fence-wire, is made the subject of application, Serial No. 359,370,filed by me July 21, 1890, and such matters are not claimed herein.

Numerall denotes an incomplete tube open upon one side thereoflongitudinally and hav ing preferably a gradually-decreasing diametertoward one end, which in use will be the upper end, or directed towardthe upper end of the post. This tube is made of metal, and preferably ofsheetsteel, galvanized or otherwise protected from rust.

2 2 denote rings of different sizes, adapted to slip over the top anddown upon the body of ring can be varied to some extent by compressingthe tube more or less by driving the ring down thereon. It is fastenedto the tube by a screw or other means.

The ring is cast or otherwise formed with a re-entrant angle 3 of aboutninety degrees,

having angular depressions at 4 4, in which the edges of the tube areforced when the ring is driven down upon it.

5 5 are hooks, cast or otherwise secured in the angular portion 3 andshaped like hammerclaws, or substantially as indicated in the drawings,for the attachment of barbed or other fence wire. Such wire can besecured to these hooks by a half-hitch, and will thus be very securelyheld.

6 denotes the lower half of a plug, preferably made in skeleton form. Itis provided with hooks 5 5, similar to the hooks on rings 2 2, and witha screw-stem 7, which may be cast solid with the plug.

8 is a ring, having in each end a seat 9, formed by the edge of thering, and an interior web or diaphragm 10, provided with ascrew-threaded opening adapted to permit the screw 7 to pass through thesame.

11 is a cap-shaped plug, (shown on a comparatively small scale in Fig.9,) which may have a skeleton form, and which is provided with ascrew-threaded opening to receive the end of a screw-stem 7. Thesedevices are used for coupling tube-sections of the post. The plug 6being placed in the lower tubesection near its top, the cap-shaped plugis screwed thereon, the upper end of the said tube-section finding aseat in the ring and 0 hearing against the Web therein. The screw 7extends through the web 10 of the ring 8, and upon its free end isscrewed the plug 11 after it has been placed in the bottom of an uppertube-section, both sections being pro- 5 angles to the wall of thetubes, and these teeth I00 let is a heavy cap, that may be placedtemporarily upon the lower post-section by screwing it thereon by theuse of a plug like 6, provided with a suitable screw to engage a socketformed in the cap, and it is intended to receive the impact of thesledge blows when the post is driven in the ground, after which it isremoved, andleither the ornamental cap or another tube-section, asdesired, is placed upon the section that has been driven into the earth.

15 indicates a modification of the wire-supporting hooks. Theyconsist ofarms, preferably extending upwardly from their point. of attachment tothe post, adapted to receive and hold a transverse wooden bar, uponwhich insulators may be arranged for supporting electric conductors.

Under many circumstances thetube driven into the ground will besufficiently anchored; but when necessary or when special firmness andsecurity are desired additional devicesof any known character may beemployed for giving greater stability. As many sections may be coupledtogetheras found convenient. In case-posts higher than ordinaryfence-posts are required it will be convenient to provide a section tobe driven into the ground, and upon the top thereof can be coupledasmany sections as the circumstances of use require. It is not to beunderstood that the invention is limited to the uses named, as there areothers that are contemplated by the inventionas, for example, it will besuitable for scaffolds 40 and like purposes, andin situations where thelower sections cannot be driven into the ground it will be entirelypracticable to secure the lower end thereof over and upon short postsattached to a horizontal frame or otherwise made stable, and othermechanical changes can be made by those skilled in the art without.departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent is- 1. The open tube-sections having their ends serrated and theserrations or teeth bent at an angle to the tube-wall, combined with aplug having a screw-threaded stem, a ring having two seats for the tubeends therein and a screw-threaded axial opening, and also with a similarsection having a plug with screw-threaded opening, whereby the two plugscan be screwed together to clamp the tube-sections inthe ring,substantially as set forth.

2. The tube-section having-a serrated end and the serrations or teethbent at an angleto the wall of the tube,-a plug having a-screwstem, anda screw-threadedcap adapted to screw upon the plug-stem and clamp theteeth or serrated portions between itself and the fitting and bolted tosaid angularpart, anda bar provided withinsulators fastened tosaidbracket, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. THORP.

Witnesses:

GEORGE P. GOODALE, WALTER BUELL.

